Shinigami in the Ninja World

He still felt somewhat unwilling in his heart.

However, before he could stand, a hand rested gently on his shoulder, pressing him down softly: "You're too badly injured. Don't try to get up."

Muramasa turned his head, tearing his gaze from the battlefield and looking upward.

It was a golden-haired figure.

That...

The person he found the most troublesome: Naruto Uzumaki.

But this man hadn't come to take his life, nor was he in any hurry to imprison him.

A warm sensation spread from his shoulder.

This feeling indicated that his wounds were being healed.

Naruto smiled: "Just convenient timing."

"Kōga didn't hold back, and while you are 'just a sword,' a Zanpakutō isn't merely for cutting, nor is it just a tool."

Muramasa's eyes widened as he stared at Naruto intently.

Hearing such words...

From the mouth of a Shinigami, it was truly surprising.

Very few Shinigami held such an understanding, which was why Muramasa's ability had been so successful and difficult to resist. Only a select few had managed to escape the effects of his powers.

No wonder those two swords weren't influenced by him.

Muramasa's emotions were genuine.

But Kōga Kuchiki wasn't convinced. He kicked Muramasa away, his voice cold and dismissive: "Really? It doesn't matter anymore."

"When I needed you, you weren't there. No amount of excuses can change that."

He lifted his head, looking toward the sky.

"Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto..."

There was still one left.

A blond man, unfamiliar in appearance, clearly a recently appointed captain from the past few years.

Though he didn't know why this person was here, it didn't matter—he wasn't important.

Naruto turned his head toward Byakuya Kuchiki.

Byakuya had already raised his hand to grip the hilt of his sword, and he also turned toward Naruto.

Naruto gave a small nod.

Byakuya immediately vanished with a flash step, seizing the opportunity to confront Kōga.

Whether due to the honor of the Kuchiki family or his position as the Captain of the 6th Division, handling a noble-born "traitor" made him the most suitable person for the task.

Byakuya was not weaker than Kōga.

His Zanpakutō had also remained unaffected by Muramasa's influence.

Sakura petals danced as the two black-clad figures clashed.

Muramasa gritted his teeth, pressing his hands against the ground to push himself up.

"Why?" Muramasa asked again, repeating the same question.

But this time…

The "why" was different. He wanted to understand what Naruto thought about the situation.

"Are you asking why Kōga said those things?" Naruto replied as he reached out to steady the wounded Sōjun Kuchiki, who managed a weak smile.

Sōjun wanted to thank him, but he was too weak to speak.

The Kuchiki family…

Owed this man once again.

"I don't think Kōga is lying," Naruto said as he nodded toward Muramasa. "As for why you couldn't hear his call…"

"While I don't know the specifics of your situation, Byakuya mentioned something earlier."

"I think it's quite normal."

Muramasa was confused.

Normal?

This was anything but normal.

How could a Zanpakutō not hear its owner's call?

"Zanpakutōs are born from the soul," Naruto said, his gaze shifting toward the distant battlefield. "If someone doesn't face their soul directly, they may not hear their Zanpakutō, just as the Zanpakutō may not hear their owner."

"When the soul is closed off, or the connection is disrupted for any reason..."

Naruto lowered his head.

Muramasa chuckled, bitterly replying: "Then the Zanpakutō won't hear its master's call."

Naruto didn't respond.

But somehow, that statement seemed to touch something deep within Muramasa. He turned his gaze toward the battlefield as well.

"It was me..."

"I was the one who hurt Kōga."

His whispers, filled with regret, were not only aimed at his Zanpakutō but also at himself.

Naruto didn't pry any further.

He continued to watch the battle.

The fight between Byakuya and Kōga was not a display of skillful finesse. It was messy and brutal, much like the earlier fight between Muramasa and Sōjun.

But the outcome was different…

Sōjun had lost to Muramasa, while Byakuya won against Kōga.

It wasn't surprising—those who believed in their souls naturally triumphed over those who abandoned theirs.

Byakuya, bloodied and exhausted, approached his father, Sōjun: "Father, I've defeated him."

Sōjun smiled, raising his hand.

The father and son clasped hands.

"Byakuya is a fine young man," the Captain-Commander descended from the sky, offering his praise.

Naruto nodded in agreement.

He then paused and turned to the Captain-Commander, who had been meditating peacefully beside him. His tone softened: "Captain-Commander, have you had the chance to inform them?"

"I've already informed them," the Captain-Commander replied without opening his eyes, delivering his response calmly.

Naruto said nothing further, his gaze returning to the group before him.

"We are, of course, aware," one of the men said, taking a deep breath. "But the Soul Society has always been governed by the power granted to us by the Spirit King..."

Naruto cut him off again: "Are you trying to test how much I know?"

"Trying to gauge how aware I am of the fact that the Five Noble Families were instrumental in sealing the Spirit King and stealing power from him?"

The eyes of the men across from him widened in disbelief.

Some of them even trembled, their spiritual pressure fluctuating uncontrollably.

Naruto continued in a calm tone, devoid of emotion: "If you, like the Shiba family or the clan guarding Hell, contributed to the stability of the three realms, then possessing such power wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing."

"But what do you want this power for—for yourselves or for the Soul Society?"

"And after stealing it, if you don't use it properly, then your sins are even greater."

Several of the men flinched.

His words were like sharp blades, cutting straight to their throats.

"Or perhaps the reason you stand before me now…" Naruto narrowed his eyes, locking onto the man leading the group, "Is it really because you're worried about the power of Central 46, or is it to protect your own interests?"

"I remember you."

"We met at the Kuchiki estate once."

He understood why Byakuya had acted this way. It wasn't just to protect the honor of the Kuchiki family—it was also to prove that he was more qualified and capable of leading the Kuchiki family than Kōga. It was for the honor of both him and his father.

Kōga lay on the ground, dazed.

Byakuya hadn't killed him.

Naruto sealed both Kōga and Muramasa, bringing them back to the Soul Society.

One day later, at the 1st Division barracks.

The post-battle meeting about Muramasa's rebellion had not yet begun, as someone had disrupted the Captain-Commander's plans.

Naruto sat at the table.

Across from him sat several elderly figures. Judging by their attire, they were representatives of the "new Central 46," led by the Kuchiki and Tsunayashiro families.

"Kōga Kuchiki, a dangerous individual, should be handed over to Central 46 for trial!" one of them said, his tone restrained but deliberate. "It is improper and against procedure to bypass us."

"How can you hand him over directly to the 6th Division?" another person followed with a protest.

Naruto studied the two speakers, his tone calm: "Tch! Kōga Kuchiki has not been disowned or expelled from the Kuchiki family. He remains the legitimate adopted son of one of the Five Great Noble Families."

"Is there a problem with handling nobles within the Sixth Division?"

The man gritted his teeth: "Of course, there is—it bypasses Central 46."

"This is an affront to the Golden Seal..."

Naruto's brow furrowed, and he interrupted without hesitation: "I recall that just a few days ago, you had me, the Captain of the 7th Division, ask for my views on Central 46."

"Were you involved in Kōga's case as well?"

The man leading the group lowered his head.

Another member couldn't help but turn to the Captain-Commander: "Captain Uzumaki, you've overstepped your authority!"

"You are merely the Captain of the 7th Division. Matters concerning the Gotei 13 should be decided by the Captain-Commander."

"The only reason you're even present is that this situation involves you, yet you dare to disregard the Captain-Commander…"

His provocation earned no response.

The Captain-Commander sat cross-legged, silent and unmoving, as though asleep. Not even the most brazen attempt to provoke him could stir a reaction from the venerable elder who had weathered thousands of years of turmoil.

With a sudden thud—

Chains shot out from behind Naruto, flashing with golden light and piercing through the shoulder of the man who had attempted to provoke him, lifting him into the air and pinning him to the doorframe.

The man gasped in shock, his eyes wide: "What are you doing, Naruto Uzumaki?!"

"Are you from the Tsunayashiro family?" Naruto asked softly, waving his hand as another chain flew out, pinning the man's other shoulder. "The moment you opened your mouth, I could smell the stench of rot and corruption."

"The Captain-Commander may have a gentle temperament."

"But I do not."

"I thought I made myself very clear."

"Central 46 can continue to exist. You so-called nobles can play whatever games you like. But when it comes to matters concerning the Gotei 13 and the Soul Society, leave it to those of us who truly understand."

Some of the members seemed ready to speak.

Others cast furtive glances at the Captain-Commander.

But the old man appeared to be genuinely asleep, his head tilted to the side, his breathing slow and heavy.

"Did you understand?" Naruto asked, lowering his voice.

There was a moment of silence.

Then he asked again: "No answer?"

"Understood," the group responded, their voices subdued.

Those who had been sneaking glances at the Captain-Commander turned their gaze back down.

Their last glimmer of hope had been extinguished the moment they uttered the word "understood." Even if the Captain-Commander didn't agree, he had at least allowed this to happen.

Because if Central 46 could no longer oversee the Gotei 13 and the Soul Society, what purpose did it serve?

To exist for its own amusement?

Naruto retracted the chains, and the pinned man fell with a thud.

They left dejectedly, no longer mentioning "Central 46" or "Kōga Kuchiki."

Naruto stood and bowed to the Captain-Commander before preparing to leave.

"The smell of blood lingers in my quarters," the Captain-Commander finally opened his eyes, his expression stern. "And the damaged doorframe will need to be repaired. The costs will be deducted from the 7th Division's budget."

Naruto smiled and nodded: "Take it from my stipend."

The Captain-Commander let out a soft "hmph" and nodded.

With the Muramasa incident finally concluded, peace returned to the Soul Society.

But the series of major events had left many young officers on edge. Some would wake up in the middle of the night, fearing another attack.

At the bar…

"Those young ones are too inexperienced," Shunsui Kyōraku said with a shake of his head, holding his sake cup in his usual nonchalant manner. "Incidents that threaten the safety of the Soul Society like this are rare—maybe once every few centuries."

"It's just bad luck that the incidents with Aizen and Muramasa happened to occur so close together."

"From now on, we can enjoy some peaceful days."

Naruto, Byakuya, and Rangiku all stared at him.

"What?" Shunsui scratched his head.

"It's just… what you said sounds like a jinx," Rangiku sighed, resting her head on the table. "I feel like something bad will happen again soon."

Shunsui protested loudly: "There's no way!"

Naruto turned to Rangiku, speaking softly: "The decision on Gin Ichimaru's case has been made."

Rangiku didn't move, her head still resting on the table, but her ears perked up.

"Even though he went undercover with Aizen for your sake," Naruto continued, noting the slight flush on Rangiku's cheeks, "he was still one of Aizen's accomplices and helped frame Captain Shinji and the others. The 2nd Division will confiscate his Zanpakutō, and I'll seal a portion of his spiritual pressure. He'll be imprisoned in the Nest of Maggots."

Rangiku suddenly lifted her head: "Just the Nest of Maggots?"

"I thought someone like him would be sent to Muken, like Aizen."

Naruto's tone softened: "He showed genuine remorse."

"And in the final moments, he severely wounded Aizen—that counts for something."

Rangiku's expression relaxed, her head swaying slightly.

The *Nest of Maggots* was a specialized prison managed by the 2nd Division, reserved for individuals deemed a threat to the Soul Society. It was one of the most secure facilities.

However…

Unlike *Muken*, where even captains found it difficult to enter, the *Nest of Maggots* was overseen by lower-ranking officers. With Rangiku's charm and connections, she could easily gain access.

Naruto turned to Byakuya.

"Kōga and Muramasa have been imprisoned in *Muken*," Byakuya said, his gaze distant. "Their sentence is not fixed. Once Kōga can regain control over Muramasa and reconnect with his soul, his thousand-year imprisonment will begin."

—A thousand years.

It sounded like a long time.

But compared to Aizen's 20,000-year sentence, a thousand years seemed relatively short.

Things were finally beginning to settle down.

Kaien Shiba successfully passed the captain's exam and officially became the new Captain of the 5th Division.

Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi returned to the Soul Society to resume his position as the Captain of the 3rd Division, while the rest of the Visoreds chose to remain in the World of the Living.

Naruto, having dealt with the numerous tasks at hand, frequently traveled between the Soul Society and the World of the Living.

He was determined to uncover why Masaki Kurosaki, along with nearly all the Quincy, had lost their powers.

It was highly unusual.

The Quincy were an ancient force.

However…

One year later.

Naruto opened his eyes to find himself in a room that was unfamiliar—not the 7th Division's barracks.

The air was damp, and moss crept up the corners of the walls.

This was the inn where he had been staying in the Land of Rain.

It wasn't time yet.

He was supposed to remain in the Soul Society for ninety-six years…

Not even forty years had passed.

~~~

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